Frenita Pimentel Agbayani

Frenita Pimentel Agbayani, 80, born on August 14, 1939, in Naguilian, La Union province, Philippines, passed away February 15, 2020. She resided in West Covina, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, California.

Frenita or Frennie as she's known to friends and family was born in Naguilian, La Union province, Philippines on August 14, 1939.
She was the third of four daughters of Antonio and Purificacion Pimentel, an elementary school principal and teacher in Rosario, La Union province.
She survived the war along with her mother and sisters by hiding from the Japanese Army in the surrounding jungles.

After the war Frennie excelled in her schooling, receiving a full scholarship to University of Philippines and graduated in 1961 with an RN degree with high honors.

While studying in Manila, she met William Agbayani from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya province and was married on January 2, 1965.
She produced two sons: Mark in 1965 and then Dino in 1967.

In the pursuit of a better life, she moved her family to the United States arriving in Chicago, Illinois on December 26, 1969.
She took her first job as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in downtown Chicago in January 1970.
The family moved to the suburb of Matteson, Illinois in 1972 where she worked at St James Hospital of Chicago Heights.

Frennie became a naturalized US citizen in 1975 and earned her BSN degree from Lewis University in December 1977.
In 1978 she started her 29 year career in the Veterans Health Administration, working first at Chicago's VA Lakeside and then VA Westside.
She rose up through the nursing ranks to become a nursing supervisor, receiving awards for her outstanding work and
commendations from the Joint Commission accrediting VA medical facilities nationwide.
After seeing both of her sons graduate from college, she left Chicago and moved to Southern California
where she worked at the West Los Angeles VA starting in 1989.

In 1996 Frennie was blessed with a grandson, Cristian, whom she loved very much.

In 2001 Frennie took the assistant chief nursing position at the Martinez VA in northern California. She kept her West Covina residence,
traveling back and forth back and forth regularly. Frennie retired on September 28, 2006.

In her youth, Frennie loved playing sports, especially volleyball and bowling, and watching the sports her children played like soccer, baseball and basketball.
She followed the US Women's nation soccer team and NBA basketball with a passion. Her favorite team changed over the years from the Chicago Bulls to the LA Lakers, and lastly the Golden State Warriors.

Frennie loved animals, orchid flowers and cooking. She was a member of ASPCA and the Humane Society. Frennie adopted several stray and feral cats including
one that produced a litter of five kittens which she kept and named after the starting players on the Chicago Bulls championship team.
She loved to cook Arroz Caldo, Garlic Shrimp, Pancit and Beef Kaldereta. Her favorite dishes were lamb chops, crab and lobster.

Frennie was best known for her kindness, love and generosity.
Each harvest season she would give away all the persimmons, lemons, pomegranates and avocados from her garden.
She wanted to be your friend, that was in her name. She took pleasure from the success and happiness of others.

Frennie was a devout Catholic, loved her family and friends and lived a good and blessed life.

She will be missed dearly and will always be in our hearts. Rest In Peace